The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1888. THE DEFENCE OF WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2895, 10 May 1888, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1888. THE DEFENCE OF WELLINGTON.

Captain Barclay who was formerly employed in the defence Dopartment as Private Secretary to the Hon, Mr Ballance, lias been engaged, according to a report by a Wellington contemporary in making a military survey of the Peninsula and the country between tlio coast line of the Strait and the city. The survey is stated to have been undertaken on the recommendation of Major-General Scliaw, with a view to the preparation of a large map, affording full information to enable plans of defence to be prepared. All the points at which an enemy could land will be shown, their probable lines of advance, and the best strategical positions from which an advance on either the city or the forts could be checked. No doubt similar surveys on an equally gigantic scale will be made for Auokland, Lyttelton and Dunedin, and the keel will be laid of a Leviathan project for protecting the Colony effectually at all salient points from that celebrated Russian cruiser which is supposed to be detailed to capture New Zealand. It is quite understood that an enormous sum of money has been expended on foolish fortifications, the major portion of which is absolutely wasted, and it ;vill probably follow as a matter of course that another half million or so of money shall be disposed of in relieving Groat Britain of obsolete war materials, and carrying out fancy defence works, Still, we must not grumble, our big military maps will no doubt be objects of interest at St. Petersburg, and may even encourage the naval department of Russia to despatch the celebrated cruiser. The only pity is that the enormous sums of money necessary for protecting us from this " Flying Dutchman" constitute a burden which we are ill prepared, to bear. If the Colony is to be saddled with taxation to the extent of say .£IOO,OOO per annum for defence purposes-and we fail to sec how the business can be kept going for less—it would be better to take the chance of the Russian cruiser visiting us and do without the taxation.

Oiiv Whareania correspondent writes; —ABilleClub has boon formed in the Castlepomt district, and boasts of 110 less than 30 active members. I notice among the names some really good marksmen, so that the winner of the last event stands but a poor show at the next meeting, which will be held at the Whakataki Range on the Queen's Birthday. Should tho weather be fino on the 24th inst., somo really good shooting ou?ht to take place at the short ranges,

About one thousand sheep left Masterton for tho Wellington Freezing Works to-dav. Tlioy were purchased at yesterday's sale hero, Tlioro are now forty annual subscribers to tho Mnsterton Philharmonic Society, and this with the orchestra of twelve makes up a total membership of fifty-two. At present most of those who have joined are performing members. The Mastorton Volunteer Fire Brigade intend holding their annual ball in June, and a committee has been formed to make the necessary arrangements, The dance will be in aid of the Brigade's funds,

The lofty, yot lowly, Captain Buckingham takes, as a man of his inches must do, a long farewoll of Mastorton to-day. If he stands as high with the Otahuhu people as he does hero, he will not fall short' of their expectations. Wo can truthfully say that since ho has been with us, no man has been more looked up to than he has,

Last night, the Mastorton Volunteer I ircßrigado presentedtheirenginokeeper, Mr W. Langley, with a valuable marble clock, as a mark of esteem, and also in recognition of tho generous and efficient free service which he has rendered during the past tno years in maintaining the online and gear in a thorough state of order and repair, Captain Muir made the presentation, the gift being accompanied by a few pleasant and appropriate sentiments, and. tho recipient, in return, expressed suitable acknowledgments, Tho clock, which is a veryjhandsonio one bears a fitting inscription on a silver plate, and was procured at the establishment of Mr Prcsswood,

Messrs Lowes and lorns report at their stock sale yesterday 7000 sheep of all classes were penned,all selling at previous rates with tho exception of breeding ewes, which showed a decline of from Is each. In cattlo, 130 wero yarded, being principally largo,all selling, with tho exception of 2 pens, under the hammer, and those being placed afterwards. Tho following are are the prices obtained. Heavy fat wethers ranged from 8s 3d to 8s lid, medium 7s to 7s lid, stores (is 9d to 7s, fat ewes (is to (is fid, dry ewes 5s to 5s Gd, breeding' ewes 3s (id to 4s 9d, and ss, culls Is 3d to 2s (id, merinos Is to 2s Od, Lambs were short; all entered found buyers; good os, medium 4s, culls 2s to 3s, In beef,bullocks made 7os to 87s Cd, fat cows GOs to 71s, 70 forward bullocks ranged from GOs to 053, medium steers 453 to 50s, small 355, Large pigs 15s (id to 30s, small 7s Cd.

There is likely to bo an arrangementmade by which three or four country subscribers combining will be able to obtain boxes of books from the Mnsterton Library ; or, at any rate, the proposal will be considered by the Borough Council at its next, meeting. The matter was brought under the notico of tho Institute Committee by an application from Mr llutlierfurd of Bideford, and there have been other similar requests previously. The system in question is largely adopted at Home, notably by the well-known "Mudie's" 311100? others, and the idea of lending parcels ot books for a more or less extended time would, under proper conditions, work well here, and be a decided advantage to those who do not get into town often enough to become subscribers under the ordinary rules,

An Alfredton settlor, who signs him-self-we know not why—"A Damned Stagier," writes to us in trenchant style about certain Councillors, He says he is one of their bosses, and they must not dictate to him, but look after their business, and not his, He also declares that they all thought he had some hot stagers, but he maintains that his tap root is still in the ground, and has too firm a hold to be cleared out, He is not, lie adds, like some squatters—a merchant's manager. Altogether, "A Damned Struggler," writes-us a pleasing and agreeable epistle, in which lie banters his neighbors in the gentlest and most considerate manner; but it is not exactly suited for publication, and we advise the author of it to study Dr. Watts' masterpiece. Mr Joseph Williams, the enthusiastic drill-instructor of the Fernridge School, was in attendance at fclic school on Tuesday morning, on the arrival of the inspector, to put the boys, who limited quitu smart in their cadut-caps, through sundry movements. The Inspector was highly gratified, and said that lie had nut seen better drill in any of the schools. Ho thanked Mr Williams on behalf of the Education Hoard, remarking that many were capable of an occasional act of kindness, but only few of a long-sus-tained one—such as that of Mr Williams —who fur about three years, had gratuitously undertaken the drill of the boys, and brought them to a state of eflicienpy,

A Good Housewife.—The «ood kusewife when giving her house its spring renovating should bear in mind that the dear inmates of her house nro more precious than many houses, and that thoii' systems need cleansing by purifying the blood, regulating the stomach anr) bowels to preyent and cure the diseases arising from spring malaiii and iniasma, and she must know that there is nothing that will do it so perfectly and surely as Ur, Smile's American Hop Bitters, the puroab and best of medicines, "Concord N. H. Patriot,"

Wobkino-Men',—Before you begin your heavy spring work after a winter of relaxation, your system needs cleansing and strengthening to prevent an attack of Ague, Billious jr Spring Fever, or some other Spring sickness that unfit you for a season's work. You will save time, much sickness and groat expense if you will use one bottle of Dr. Soule'a American Hop Bitters in your family this month, Don't wait. "Burlington Hawkoye,"

Wk are now showing gome special bargains in our clothing department, from liive's bankrupt stock, at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, To Aro House, Wellington, Foil boys' wear, strong tweed knicko suits—Hive's price, (is !)il; ours ;is Gd r Long trouser suits—ltivc'a price, 17s fid ours 10s. Youths suits—liive's price 20s; ours 12s Od, Children's overcoats from 7s G; hoys' overcoats from (Is, youths overcoats from 13s Gd; at the Te Aro House sale of liive's bankrupt stock, Wellington.

Foil men's wear. Hive's 20s trousers and vest for lis (id; Hive's 8s trousers tor 4s !kl; Hive's (is 9d serge trousers for 2s 9(1; Hive's 80s worsted sac coats for 17s (id; Rive's '27s Gel tweed suits for 17s Gd; Rive's 40s suits for 25s Hive's 00s colonial suits for 355; Rive's 25s overcoats for 17s Gd; at the bankrupt stock sale, Te Aro House, Wellington, A lot of tics, in silk and lawn, that were Gd, 9d, and Is each, for threepence each, linen collars at ild for threepence; men's socks, of all kinds, reduced from Is, Is (id, Is (Id to (id, Oil, Is per pair; a splendid lot of striped wool socks, marked 2s, for Is per pair; at Hive's bankrupt stock sale, Te Aro House, Wellington,

Men's cotton undershirts—Rive's price, 2s (id ours, Is Gd. Merino shirts—Rive's price, 2s 9d, ours Is 9d. Lambs' wool shirts—Rive's price, 5s fid; ours 8s 3d. Strong working shirts-Rive's price, 2s 3d; ours, Is (id, Heavy tweed shirts—Rive's price, Gs 9d; ours, 4s 9d. White shirts— Rive's price, 4s lOd; ours, 2s 9d; Rive's price, (is; ours, 3s Gd; at the sale of Rive's bankrupt stock, Te Aro House, Wellington. Is fact, in this, as in all other departments, there are multitudes of bargains impossible to enumerate. Come and inspect them this evening, at the sale of Hive's bankrupt stock. To Aro House, Wellington. -Adyt,

Tins evening is tho special night at the Theatre Royal for pnvnto rinkiny. The jury returned a vovdict of Accidental death in connection with the Into Mr J. H. Murray's fatality in Wellington. Mr W. Darvill notifies elsewhere that lie is prepared to do all kitida of general exprcss.work, Tenders are invited by tha Boi'ouoli Council for formation and metall in» in Princes-street, The creditors meeting in the estate of Emilo Johanaen, of Masterton, insolvent, will bo held on Tuesday 15th May. In the match at Norbury against Thornton's eleven—their first in England this visit—tho Australians won by Bix wickets. Messrs JR. Aitlcon and Sons hold a sale of tweeds, clothing and drapery on Sat. urday next, in their Queon-street rooms, Tho old flooring on the first Waipoua bridge has been renovated to the extent of about seventy old planks being replaced by now ones. The Masterton Borough Council's men are at present engaged in clearing the wator tables in Renall-street, and are depositing tho scrapings so collected on tho metalled portion of the road,

As there will be several skilled rinkists present at the private skating party this evening, there will probably bo some artistic and clever skating, to be seen at tho Theatre Royal, Among the bushfalling being done in tho Eketahuna locality, we hear that a contract has been let for clearing 200 acres of tho Wellington Special Settlement Association's prnporty at Richmond.

The Masterton Borough Works Committee met last night. Its recommendations to the Council are that a footbridge bo erected over tho Makora mill creek in Dixon-street, and that the improvements in Smith and Dixon-streets be carried out at an early date, tenders to be called for presentation at the Council's meeting on 2Dth May. Another meteor was observed from Masterton on Tuesday evening last, about half-past six o'clock, It appeared in the Southern sky at a considerable altitude, and although not so brilliant as Friday's, it was still an object of remarkable beauty, and of great luminosity. The prismatic colors were well defined, and wore very pretty. It fell as a ball of lire, went through a variety of color transformations, and finally developing a greenish tint, burst somo distance above the horizon like a lloman candle, but, of course, on a grander scale. A very good suggestion has beon mado by a Masterton lady. It is that the Masterton Public Library and the Greytown Library should adopt an interchange system in their stock of books, and thus the readers at one end of the valley would have tho opportunity of inturn readingthe literature ot the other end. Many of the books in the Institute here are thoroughly worked out, and to be able to send say one or two hundred volumes to (iroytown for six months and borrow a similar number from there for a like period, would bo a decided advantage. The proposition will be discussed and dealt with at next Borough Council Meeting,

A meeting of the Masterton Volunteer match committee was held last evening at the Drillshed. Present-Lieutenant Hooper (in the chair), and Sergeants Matthews, Kibblewhite, and Wiltui, The following team was selected to fire a scratch match against the Wellington City Guards to-morrow (Friday): Lieut. Thompson. Ser«t. Matthews, Sergt. Kibblewhito, Volunteers J. Beutley, It. Bentloy, R. McKenzi. l , G. Blane, W. A. Wilton, G. Schultz, C. JLlofHetis; emergencies : Vols C, Bentloy, and A. Hoar; referee: Sergt C, F. Wilton. The team is requested to meet at the Railway Station at 1 a.m. to-morrow. It may interest our readers to know that Mrs Geo. Hooper,to whom is allotted the part of the plaintiff in "Trial by Jury," has had considerable experience and achieved a marked success in amateur opera. Her first appearance was with the Cliristchureh Amateur Operatic Society, where as Germaine, in Les Cloches de Cornevillc, her vocalisation and dramatic talent were the subject of much favourable comment by the press. This opera, it may be mentioned, ran no less than eleven consecutive nights in Christchurch, and the attendance at the closing performance was larger than ever. In the same city, Mrs Hooper also took part in other opei as notaMy as Clairette in Madame Angot, and in the optra of Madame J'avart she was nllotcd the title role. Subsequently in Nelson, she also occupied a prominent position in musical circles, taking the contralto parts in the oratorical works of " The Messiah," and " Elijah," and in various Masses. Mrs Hooper, too, during her stay there was associated with the production of several cantatas, and took part in most of the ordinary musical events in the way of concerts, etc, When, in addition to having this gifted lady as a soloist, the Masterton Philharmonic Society's production of "Trial of Jury" will combine the'foremost musical combination of individual talent and numerical strength which has yet been staged in tho Wairarapa. the success of the opera may almost be looked upon as assured. Mr Shaw lias brought into Masterton specimens of two finds which have been made up the Maungateira stream, Waingawa. One is a sample of the well-known "rotten-stone," which is go universally used for cleaning silverware and other articles of jewellery, This exists in tons in the locality, and is easily accessible. The other aiticle is a particularly lino sand somewhat ot the ordinary color, but of microscopically minuto particles, made up apparently of grains of quartz co - miwded with mica. Being magnified, it looks remarkably Ike sugar, in fact, it would lmve a commercial value in this connection in any other country, but honest New Zealand. Both of these deposits aro in the banks of the stream in almost unlimited quantity. The sand, we might mention, struck us as being suitable lor the same uses as emery.